Trap.



P. C. THAYER.

TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10, I914.

'1 1 afi gm Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 5M uenkoz THE NORRIS PETERS cO.. PHOTO'LITHQ. WASHINGTON D.

P. c. THAYER.

TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10. 1914.

l fififi figw Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

2 SHEETS-$133111 2.

Witneoaeo THK NORRIS PETERS 60., PHom-LITHCL. WASHINGTUN, Dy 5.

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Ed PATNT UFI@.

TRAP.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PAUL C. THAYER, citizen of the United States, residing at Enterprise, in the county of Butte and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traps; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in animal traps and has for its main object to improve upon the construction of devices of this character to such an extent as to provide an extremely simple yet highly efficient trap. In carrying out the above object, minor objects of the invention become to pro vide a simple trigger tripped catch mechanism for retaining a number of pivoted'j aws in retracted or set position and to construct said catch mechanism in a simple manner.

A still further object is to provide simple means whereby a plurality of spring actuated jaws may be attached to a support by a single attaching element thereby reducing the number of parts which would otherwise be necessary.

With the above and minor objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and combination herein described and claimed and shown in the drawings wherein;

Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations showing the device respectively in set and tripped position. Fig. 3 is a top plan view with the parts in set position. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view with the jaws in tripped position. Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown my improved trap as including a support 1 which may be formed of wood or other suitable material, said support being here shown in the form of a rectangular wooden block although the same might be circular or polygonal in contour. The block 1 is provided on its opposite side edges with longitudinal grooves 2 while grooves 3 connect the grooves 2 and are designed for the reception of a solid metal band 4: which passes through coil springs 5 whose inner side portions are seated in the grooves 2, one end of each of said springs being extended Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 10, 1914.

Patented Apr. 2Q, 1915.

Serial No. 861,095.

inwardly as indicated at 6, said inwardly extending ends contacting with one side of the block 1 and being held in position by a metal plate 7 which is secured to the block 1 by nails, screws, or other appropriate fasteners.

As clearly seen in the various figures of the drawings, the ends of the coil springs 5 opposite their inwardly extending portions the upper side of the block 1 near its edges.

When the levers 11 are in this position, links 13 which are pivoted to the inner ends thereof are designed to have their intermediate portions received by substantially hook shaped keepers 14 which rise from the block 1, the free ends of said links 13 then abutting a slidable trigger tripped catch 15 whereby the same are normally retained within the keepers 14.

The catch 15 is here shown in the form of a comparatively heavy pin 16 which is vertically slidable in the enlarged upper end of a guide opening, the lower end of the pin 16 having a threaded engagement with the upper end of a hooked shaped trigger 17 whereby, when the pin stands in raised position when the trap is set, a downward pull on the trigger 15 on which suitable bait is hung, will move said pin downwardly thereby allowing the links 13 to swing in the proper direction for disengaging the keepers 14:, the tension of the springs 5 now forcing the jaws 8 against the animal which has pre viously tripped the catch mechanism and thereby effectually trapping the animal.

For the purpose of suspending the trap in operative position, suitable chains 18 are preferably employed although the trap would probably operate to equal advantage were it merely rested upon the ground with its jaws outstretched.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have produced an extremely simple trap, yet one which possesses numerous advantageous features.

- ent is:

1. In a trap, a support, a spring actuated jaw pivoted thereto, a lever attached to said jaw and extending past the pivot thereof, a link pivoted to said lever, a keeper on the support and designed to receive therein the intermediate portion of said link when the trap is set, a trigger tripped catch adapted to abut said link to normally retain the same in said keeper, and a second jaw carried by the support and coacting with said pivoted jaw. s I

'2. In a trap, a support, a spring actuated jaw pivoted thereto, a lever secured to said jaw and projecting beyond its pivot, a keeper carried by the support, a link pivoted to said lever and designed to be partially received in the keeper when the trap is set, a slidable trigger tripped catch carried by the support and designed'to be projected and to abut said link to normally retain the same in'the keeper, and a second jaw carried by the support and coacting with said pivoted aw. i

3. In a trap, a support having a guide opening enlarged at one end, a 'catch pin slidable in the enlarged end of said opening, a' trigger having a shank slidably mounted in the reduced end thereof, said shank being connected with said pin, jaws carried by said support, one jaw being pivoted'and' spring operated, and setting elements coacting with said pin for retaining the pivoted j aw'in normally set position.

4:. In a trap, a supporting block having comparatively deep grooves intermediate the ends of its said edges and comparatively Copies of this patent may be obtained for shallow grooves extending around the angles of said block and connecting said comparatively deep grooves, coil springs having one of their ends rigidly secured to the supporting block, the inner sides of said Jsprings lying in the deep grooves, jaws operable by the action of said springs and a clamping band surrounding said block and passing through said springs, the portions of said band lying between adjacent springs being located in said comparatively shallow grooves.

5.'In a trap, a supporting block, spring actuated jaws pivoted to opposite side edges thereof, levers attached to said jaws and projecting beyond the pivots thereof, said levers being designed to contact with one side of said block when the jaws are set, links pivoted to the free ends of said levers, substantially hook shaped keepers carried by the side of said block engaged by said levers, said links being designed to project radially inward and to havetheir inner portions received by said keepers, a slidable catch pin located substantially at the center of the block and normally projecting therefrom and abutting the free ends of said links whereby to retain the same in set position, and a trigger attached to said catch pin and designed to retract the same when tripped.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PAUL O. THAYER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

